Joliet West High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Joliet West High School

established = 1964
type = Public secondary
grades = 9–12
city = 401 N. Larkin Avenue
Joliet
state = Illinois
country = USA
principal = Cheryl McCarthy
faculty = 322
enrollment = 2392
campus = Suburban
mascot = Tigers/Steelmen
colors = Black, Gold, and White
newspaper = Tiger Tales
yearbook = Alpha Omega
website = [http://www.jths.org/jths/schools/west/index.asp]
picture =

Joliet West High School, along with Joliet Central, makes up the Joliet Township High School district in Joliet, Illinois. West's mascot is the tiger, although when various activities are combined with Central, Central's mascot is used, the Steelman.

Building

The school was originally constructed in 1964, one year after its identical sister school Joliet East, and has since been added on to 3 times. The first addition, completed in the early 1980s, added a bookstore to the cafeteria, additional space around the maintenance area, a multi-purpose room by the gymnasiums (primarily used for dance and wrestling), six additional classrooms, and a greenhouse.

The second and third additions (not shown in the picture) were completed as two consecutive projects, adding several additional classrooms, a new band room, cafetorium, conference room, dean's offices, and student commons area. The first phase broke ground on November 4, 2001 and was completed the following school year. The second phase began during the 2002-2003 year and was open for fall 2003 classes.

West began constructing a Field House in late 2007. A Field House is also being added to Joliet Central High School. During the 2008 - 2009 school year, Central and West began to divide the schools athletic programs, causing the West mascot to become the Tiger once again, leaving Central as the Steelmen. The split began with Joliet's Freshmen football team dividing. By the 2010 - 2011 school year, Joliet Central and Joliet West will have there own football teams. It is still unknown if other sports and activities between both schools will divide, and if conferences exclusive to West and Central will be attended by both schools.

Music tradition

Joliet West has been known for its outstanding music programs for half a century. Many West alums continue on in music as a career. Some of which are listed below. The Marching Tigers, West's marching band, is one of the few groups that still carries the former mascot. There have been five band directors at West: Arthur D. Katterjohn, 1964-1967; Dean H. Sayles, 1967-1990; I. V. Foster, 1990-1992; Ted Lega, 1992-1993, and Kevin T. Carroll, 1993-present.

Recently, Joliet West High School's music program has come to note by being one of only a handful of High Schools to have an "Opera Scenes" program. The music department has performed scenes ranging from "La Boheme" to "Die Fledermaus" to" Dialogues of the Carmelites". In April of 2008, Joliet West High School will become the first high school to perform a comic opera of Edwin Penhorwood entitled "Too Many Sopranos".

Notable alumni

*Charlie Adams, drummer/percussionist (Chameleon, Yanni)
*John Barrowman, Broadway actor (Doctor Who, Torchwood)
*Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer (The Smashing Pumpkins)
*Andy Dick - actor-comedian (The Andy Dick Show)
*Anthony Rapp - actor (Rent)
*Adrianne Curry - model, tv personality (Dropped out in 11th grade)